Hullwebs History of Hull
Personalities of Hull - 20th Century
The City
of Hull is proud to boast many famous and distinguished personalities,
both past and present. There are also one or two infamous characters
we'd probably much sooner hide away! There are a great many more
we've forgotten, so please add
a personality to our lists. |
|||
| Born | Died | Name | Bio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1902 | 1971 | Stevie Smith | Poet and novelist, born in Hull and educated in London. In 1935 she took her first collection of poems to a publisher, who rejected them and advised her to try a novel. The result was Novel on Yellow Paper, a largely autobiographical monologue in a humorous conversational style. Her first book of poetry, A Good Time Was Had By All was published in 1937. |
| 1903 | 1941 |  Amy
Johnson |
Hull born aviator who flew solo to Australia in her single engine Gipsy Moth, Jason. Bookshelf |
| 1903 | 1979 | Marjorie Rhodes | Was nominated for Broadway's 1965 Tony Award as Best Actress. Stared in numerous TV and film favourites. |
| 1907 | 1979 | Henry Kettlewell | Geneticist and entomologist, born in Howden. In his best known research he showed that the dark coloration developed by the peppered moth in industrial areas had a greater survival value than the original light coloration it had in rural areas, thus demonstrating the effectiveness of natural selection as an evolutionary process. |
| 1913 | 1944 | Dan Billany | Dan Billany was a Hull-born war hero who also became an accomplished author who's book The Trap has been described as one of the best to come out of WW2. |
| 1916 | 1965 | Walter Denton | The stories of 'Dillinger', Hull fisherman and practical joker, are known City wide. |
| 1918 | 2000 | Wilfred Mannion | Yorkshire born Hull City footballer who was an integral part of the great English national side of the late 1940s, scoring one goal for every four league matches he played. |
| ? | ? | Roy Tindall | Owner of the Marlborough Club, Newstead Street, from 1937 to 1983. |
| 1919 | >> | Ronald Magill | Grumpy soap-star Amos Brearly who started his life on Hull's Spring Bank. |
| 1920 | 1944 | John Pulford DFM | Flight Engineer on Guy Gibson's Lancaster, AJ-G, for for the infamous 617 Squadron Dambuster raids. |
| 1920 | 1995 | Gerald Thomas | Hull born film director best known for the ever-popular Carry On series of slap-stick films. |
| 1920 | >> | Ian Carmichael | A light comedian from stage revue, Carmichael took the British cinema by storm in the 1950s, and established himself, albeit for a few short years, as a major star. Video Room |
| 1929 | >> | Len Bacon | Hull Local Historian Len Bacon sponsored the Hull City Council Blue Plaque that is now displayed inside Bransholme Library; commemorating the RAF base that existed in the area between 1939 and 1961. |
| 1922 | 1985 | Philip Larkin | Writer and poet who spent thirty years as the Hull University Librarian. Bookshelf |
| 1924 | >> | Brian Rix | Between 1944 and 1967 Brian Rix presented and starred in a number of productions which became known as the Whitehall Farces. Bookshelf |
| 1925 | 1980 | David Whitfield | David Whitfield commanded the respect of an admiring older generation through a period in which teenagers, not adults, would become the dominant record buyers. Music Room |
| 1926 | >> | George William Gray | Chemist, born in Scotland. He joined the staff of Hull University in 1946, becoming professor of chemistry. His research into liquid crystals took on a new importance in the 1960s when electronics companies realized they could be used to form a visual display, and he succeeded in making the necessary stable liquid crystal. |
| 1926 | 2001 | Ronnie Hilton | Ronnie Hilton seems to be almost forgotten by today's music industry but he was one of Britain's most popular singers of the 1950s. Music Room |
| 1927 | >> | Jack Rigg | Amazing local artist with a true love for maritime scenes. Born in Farsle, Leeds, Jack is a regular visitor to Hull, the City his son Ian has made his home. Gallery |
| 1929 | 1988 | Lillian Bilocca | Big Lill was a well know Hessle Roader who campaigned for improved safety aboar trawlers following the loss of the Hull trawlers St. Romanus, Kingston Peridot, and Ross Cleveland. |
| 1931 | 1991 | Jean Rook | An ex Malet Lambert pupil who progressed ever upwards becoming an editor of The Express newspaper. |
| 1932 | >> | Roy Hattersley | Sheffield born statesman who studied at Hull University, and was a journalist and local authority politician before becoming a Labour MP in 1964. |
| ? | ? | Patricia Bredin | England's first Eurovision contestant in 1957 and star of screen & stage. The shortest song ever, ‘All’ lasted for just one minute and 52 seconds. |
| 1934 | Norman Collier | Great Hull-born (Christmas baby) commedian with many TV credits, including TISWAS | |
| 1935 | >> | Jimmy Binks | Hull born Jimmy Binks was a fine county wicket keeper who rarely made a mistake and was equally adept standing up to the spinners or back to pace. |
| 1935 | >> | Alan Plater | Jarrow born TV and Radio writer who helped in the formation of Hull's Spring Street Theatre. Bookshelf |
| 1937 | >> | Roger McGough | Poet and performer who studied at Hull University. A poet of bizarre irony and wit, he established his reputation with the publication of Frinck, A Day in the Life of, and Summer with Monika. |
| 1937 | >> | Tom Courtnay | With his gaunt face and slight frame, this Hull-born, RADA-trained actor represented for a generation of filmgoers resistance to the status quo. |
| 1938 | >> | John Prescott | British politician, born in Prestatyn. He served in the merchant navy and studied at Hull university. In 1968 he became an officer of the National Union of Seamen, and a Labour MP in 1970. |
| 1939 | >> | Ivan Maugher | Speedway rider, born in Christchurch, New Zealand. He rode for Wimbledon, Rye House, Eastbourne, Newcastle, Belle Vue, Exeter, and Hull between 1957 and 1982, and won the world individual title a record six times (1968-70, 1972, 1977, 1979). He also won two pairs world titles, four team titles, and the world long-track title three times. |
| 1940 | >> | John Alderton | Born in Gainsborough on 27th November, 1940, best known for his television sit-com appearances which include Please, Sir! (1968-72), My Wife Next Door (1972), and The Upchat Line (1977). |
| 1943 | 1985 | Clive Sullivan | Clive scored 250 tries for Hull in 352 games, easily a club record. He transferred across the city in 1974 to Hull Kingston Rovers and scored a further 118 tries in 213 games. He won the first of 17 caps for Great Britain in 1967. |
| 1946 | >> | Maureen Lipman | Hull born actress and writer who studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art making her debut in The Knack (1969). She has played in a number of West End productions, including See How They Run (1984) and Re: Joyce! (1988-9, 1991), about Joyce Grenfell. Television appearances include Smiley's People, Absent Friends, Agony, Eskimo Day (1996), and the sequel Cold Enough for Snow (1998), but she is probably best known for her award-winning ‘You got an Ology?’ British Telecom commercial on television. She has written several humorous books, including How Was It For You? (1985), Thank You For Having Me (1990), and You Can Read Me Like a Book (1995). In 1973 she married the playwright Jack Rosenthal. |
| 1946 | 1993 | Mick Ronson | The music of Elton John, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Ian Hunter, Van Morrison, Roger McGuinn and a host of other prominent artists was elevated by this Hull guitarist. |
| 1949 | >> | Tom Paulin | Leeds born poet who studied at the universitie of Hull. His central themes are the Irish predicament, and in particular Protestant identity, beginning with A State of Justice. Later books include The Riot Act, Seize the Fire, and The Invasion Handbook. |
| 1952 | >> | Andrew Motion | Poet, biographer, and novelist, born in London, he became an English lecturer at Hull University (1976-80). His works include The Lamberts, a biography of Philip Larkin A Writer's Life, a biography of Keats, and Wainewright the Poisoner. He succeeded Ted Hughes as poet laureate in 1999. |
| 1954 | >> | Anthony Minghella | Director and screenwriter, born in Ryde, Isle of Wight. He studied at the University of Hull and began a career as playwright and theatre director. His credits as film director/writer include Truly, Madly, Deeply, Mr Wonderful , The English Patient and The Talented Mr Ripley. |
| ? | >> | Roy North | Actor who was well known as Basil Brush's straight man, Mr Roy. |
| 1961 | >> | Roland Gift | Fine Young Cannibals vocalist, actor and musician who stared in films, television and on the stage. |
| 1969 | >> | Reece Shearsmith | As one quarter of the League of Gentlemen Shearsmith has written and performed in three award-winning series, a Christmas special and various stage runs. |
| 1972 | >> | Debora Stephenson | With appearances in 'Bad Girls', 'The Last Detective', 'Playing The Field' and 'Mad About Alice', Deborah is due to start filming as Frankie Baldwin for ITV's Coronation Street during April 2004. |
| 1982 | >> | Pippa Fulton | Star of BBC's Fame
Academy during 2000, Pippa is at the very start of a promising entertainment
career. |
| 1984 | >> | Andrew Newton Lee | Starred as Robbie Flyn in Channel 4's 'Hollyoaks' and appeared in 'Where The Heart Is' and as a pizza delivery boy 'Coronation Street'. |
| 1986 | >> | Roxanne Cooper | Was just starting a course in Musical Theatre at Hull College when she got the call-up for Pop Idol 2003. |
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